Aya stepped forward.

And again.

And the moment she crossed into that “oh—they’re definitely coming over here” distance, Raveena looked up.

Her amber eyes met Aya’s violet ones, and she looked like someone seeing something strange but deciding not to react just yet.

Twitch, twitch.

Raveena’s black ears did so.

Aya faltered just a little, standing there in her Meadowcut uniform.

“Um… h-hello there,” she then spoke, trying her best not to sound like she was melting under her own nerves. “I hope I’m not… bothering you.”

She reached into her basket, lifting the lid on the pastel-lined container to reveal one of the last three remaining cranberry-honey scones.

“I’m, uh, giving these out today, as part of a… well, not a project, really, more of a—habit,” she added with a tiny laugh. “Would you like to try one, Miss… Raveena Vesper, right?”

At Aya’s offer, Raveena blinked once before her eyes moved to the scone. Then to Aya. Then back to the scone.

Then—

“…Really? For me?”

Her voice was unexpectedly smooth and low, and though it wasn’t heavy, Aya could immediately hear the Westwyn accent in her tone.

Aya let out a breathy giggle. “Yes! I mean—mm-hm, yes. It’s freshly baked, too.”

Twitch, twitch.

Raveena’s ears did it again.

“It’s cranberry-honey,” Aya added, hoping that Raveena would accept. “Still a little warm in the center, I think. Um… no pressure, though, if you don’t want—”

“…Aren’t you bothered?”

Aya’s words immediately stalled in her throat. “Eh—mm-ney~?”

She stared for a moment, puzzled—until she noticed where Raveena’s eyes had focused, just over her shoulder.

Turning around, Aya was met with a constellation of looks. Most coming from students hanging out under pergolas, leaning near stone railings, or passing on break. The looks were a variety of curious ones, apprehensive ones, and a few… outright gaping.

“Oh crumbs…” she mumbled in her head.

Some looked as if they'd just seen her offer a tart to a thundercloud. Others had that silent “Is she really talking to her?” expression, like just going near Raveena Vesper was a bad omen by itself.

Aya turned back around. Her ears gave a flutter. But instead of shrinking away, she gave Raveena a small, sheepish smile. “Oh, I’m not bothered, I just thought… you might like to try one.”

And that earned a sound from Raveena, a rather curious one.

“Hm.”

It wasn’t dismissive, didn’t sound like it. Wasn’t even out of wariness.

It sounded like someone experiencing something mildly puzzling, maybe even novel.

Aya, unfortunately, panicked a little anyway, so she pulled the scone back just a smidge. “A-ah, I mean—sorry, I wasn’t trying to push. If you’d rather not, that’s alright! I can just—”

“I haven't said anything yet,” Raveena unexpectedly cut in calmly.

Aya froze at her words, then she looked back up. There, she saw that Raveena had extended her hand, palm-side up beneath the dappled shade of the cinnamonwood.

“If Miss Ribbuns doesn’t mind,” she added, “I’ll have a taste.”

Aya stared at her outstretched hand for a moment too long.

Then—flutter! went her ears again.

“Oh, of course I don’t mind!” she squeaked, quickly placing the warm scone into Raveena’s hand. “Please enjoy! It’s one of my favorites. I hope it’s not too sweet, or too tart, or—oh winds, I didn’t bring tea to go with it, that would’ve been—”

“You’re still talking.”

“R-right! I’ll hush now.”

Raveena’s lip might’ve quirked as she said that. Just a little. But Aya didn’t catch it. She was too busy feeling the slight heat of embarrassment from being told off. Additionally, she was also too busy watching as Raveena lifted the scone and observed it before she took her first bite.

Then she chewed. And then she closed her eyes.

Not in an exaggerated way. Not like someone sighing over gourmet food, just a natural way of closing.

Aya held her breath.

Then Raveena swallowed.

Her eyes opened again, trained not on Aya, but the scone itself—what little of it was left. And her face now looked…

Delighted?

Aya couldn’t be sure. Her angle wasn’t perfect, and Raveena seemed like the type of animal-folk who was as expressive as a locked door on most days. But for some reason—there was a short, soft exhale from her nose. A breath that sounded… content. Maybe even impressed.

And before Aya could second-guess it—

Another bite.

Then she chewed.

Then she swallowed.

Then came another bite, it was the last.

She chewed once more.

And swallowed once more.

Until the last crumb was gone.

Gone. Just like that.

Aya’s hands clasped together in front of her, the way someone might if they'd just witnessed a small miracle.

“She liked it,” she thought to herself, eyes sparkling at the reaction. “She really, really liked it—!”

But of course, it would be even better if she said so.

So Aya leaned forward the tiniest bit. “So…?” she asked, a tad bit nervously. “Did it… maybe taste alright…?”

Twitch, twitch.

Raveena’s ears gave that little flutter again.

Then she turned her head slightly, hand curling into a fist before raising it to her mouth and cleared her throat before speaking a bit quietly. “…It tasted delicious. Wasn’t as sweet as I expected. It was… perfectly just right.”

The moment she heard that, Aya’s face lit up like a lantern in spring.

“A-ah—oh winds, thank you—!” she beamed, her whole posture bouncing just a little. “That means a lot, really! I’m so glad it wasn’t too much—I was worried the cranberry would overpower the honey, but—”

She stopped herself again. Clasped her hands tighter. Her smile grew lopsided with bashful energy as her expression changed just a little upon remembering something.

“If… it’s alright that I ask. You said earlier—‘If Miss Ribbuns doesn’t mind.’. How did you know my name?”

Raveena’s eyes stared at hers for a tiny moment, before giving Aya a subtle smile. “I could ask the same thing,” she said. “How did you know my name?”

“Well, um… I suppose it’s because I heard about—”

“You don’t have to answer that.”

At that, Aya could simply blink. Then she watched as Raveena leaned back a little against the cinnamonwood’s trunk, her eyes lifting briefly to the sky.

“I have a feeling I know what it’d be,” she added, before she then turned her gaze back to the rabbit-folk. “…It’s okay.”

“Oh… I see,” she mumbled, nodding once. “I’m sorry...”

“Hey, it’s okay, really," Raveena reassured.

“Well, may I ask how about you…? How did you know about me?”

Raveena looked aside, tilting her head just slightly. “Same way you did.”

“Same way I did?”

Raveena nodded. “I mean, really… not even a week into the year, and already every other hallway conversation is about some rabbit-folk girl in Meadowcut uniform. Who bakes too much. Shares it too freely. And has… a very adorable and memorable hair.”

“My hair’s not that memorable!” Aya stammered, blushing instantly, ears doing a little shy flail. “It’s just a bit fluffy today—I mean, always—and I’m not that interesting, I just—well, I bake, yes, but I’m not… adorable—I—”

Ding—ding—ding!

The bell suddenly rang; break time was over.

Students all across the courtyard began to move. Some groaned. Some sprinted. Some looked like they were just remembering homework.

Aya looked up at the sound—then back at Raveena, just in time to see her stand.

Raveena brushed the back of her Foxcut jacket, then over her skirt. She then sandwiched her book between her arm and body, before saying, “Well, I’ll be off now.”

Aya’s ears shot back up. “I- uhh, wait!”

Raveena stopped mid-stride then looked back at Aya. “What’s wrong?”

Aya held her basket tighter and bowed her head slightly. “I'm sorry! I just realized that I never properly introduced myself… how rude of me.”

Then she took one small step forward and held out her hand. “I’m Aya Ribbuns! A third year. Advanced Culinary Arts. It was lovely to meet you.”

In response, Raveena reached out and grasped her hand, giving it one gentle shake. “Raveena Vesper. Third year. Arcane Tech. Likewise.”

“Well! Miss Vesper—"

"You can just call me Raveena, no need for that," Raveena corrected.

"Oh okay! Raveena! I hope we can talk again some time!

Raveena didn’t answer yes, but she simply nodded. Then, right as she started to walk, after a few steps, she halted again, making Aya wonder what's wrong.

“…Raveena?”

Raveena looked over her shoulder. “That treat… was really good. It kind of… lifted my spirit a bit," she said with a small shrug.

After hearing such words, Aya’s heart gave a warm little thump.

“I’m happy to hear that!” she replied happily. “I always try to make things that feel like that. Hearing you say it means a lot to me!”

Raveena smiled, adding one last thing over her shoulder—

“And you’re really sweet, too. I find it cute," and then she walked off calmly, almost as if she didn’t drop an unusual compliment that left Aya standing stiff there, even redder than earlier in the cheeks with her eyes blinking very fast for a few times as she tried to process what she had just heard.

After fully realizing it, the poor rabbit covered her face with both hands.

“S-sweet?! Cute?!”